September 2006

April 29, 2006

progress...

Just a quick one.

I met with Danielle from the sandblast-arts project, and felt wildly excited about what she is doing; it seems that we are very much coming from the same angle in regard to the Saharawi issues, and I feel very passionate about the way in which she is working with Saharawi artists toward self empowerment and recognition through the art and music of the desert. We are meeting again this week to talk about how we can tie our two projects together, and work toward mutual publicity and recognition. For me it was also a wonderful experience to meet with another European who understands the culture and has actually spent time in the desert; it has helped a lot with the inevitable feelings of loneliness and alienation I have experienced after moving so abruptly from one environment into another. I am feeling very positive about working with her, and also relieved that through her project I can remain focussed on my own. I remind myself every day that I must simply find a way to carry on walking in September, no matter how great the financial obstacles seem at times.

I realise that the readership for this blog is not massive, but as I move more into a relationship with the sandblast project and begin to form plans as to how to move forward, I would be hugely appreciative of any ideas, comments, or suggestions from readers. Somehow I feel that for me the way forward in this thing is through communication and being part of a wider community - a high priority for me, as for Danielle, is to raise international awareness of the issues in the Western Sahara - a corner of the world which few people recognise or understand. Over the coming weeks I hope to post a lot on this site in connection with the arts and creativity which comes out of the desert, in the hope that I can communicate the beauty and depth of the culture I have been travelling in - and that it can be through this that Saharawi life can be showcased, rather than simply as a political issue. The politics can never be my fight - but helping to bring the culture to a wider community, can be.

Anyway. As I said - a quick one - but I want to stay in contact and online, and keep any interested people aware of what I am doing to keep the walk on track. I hope to get some photos up soon to give you a visual picture of what is happening with sandstorm - in the meantime the link is www.sandblast-arts.org, if you want to see what Danielle is working on.

Comments

Hi Paula
tried to donate a miserable sum of money so you could have at least a drink on me (though i wish i could be there to have the drink with you) but nothing comes up when i
hit 'make a donation' .....